A steel framework covered in white mesh provides shading and privacy to the street frontage of this office building in Deinze, Belgium by CAAN Architects (+ slideshow).
The headquarters for steel fabrication firm Lootens Line is located by a canal on the outskirts of the city, and was designed to accommodate offices, meeting rooms and a showroom.
The new structure adjoins existing warehouses that CAAN Architects renovated and extended to house the client's own manufacturing machinery.
A small office between the warehouses and a road that runs alongside the canal were both removed to make way for the new building, which extends the roofline of the existing structure towards the street and is fronted by the mesh screen.
Related story Three stacked volumes comprise Hectaar office building by CAAN Architecten
"The three-storey office building is integrated in the volumetry of the existing warehouse and is completed with new white isolated front panels," said the architects in a statement.
The screen rises to the roofline of the office block at one end and the reception area at the other, helping to control levels of privacy and direct sunlight inside the building.
"This rhombic-shaped carbon grill gives an extra texture to the volume but is mainly used to give the office an optimal sun shading," the architects added.
The mesh also forms a boundary fence along the edge of the site, which drops down one metre from the road to the floor level of the existing buildings. An entrance from the street leads to a reception and stairs that descend to the workshops.
Tall narrow windows facing the street and three small patios enclosed in glass allow natural light to reach this lower-ground floor. Trees planted in the patios project above the structure's roof height and can be seen from the street.
The lower-ground floor extends along the full length of the site, providing space for meeting rooms, a showroom and auditorium, and the company's archive and storage area.
A gap between the workshops and the new building enables daylight to reach the offices through glazed north-facing surfaces, with elevated glass-walled walkways connecting an office and lunch room at either end of the site with the workshops.
The street-facing walls of the workshops and the new building are finished in a rough white render and punctuated by an irregular pattern of square windows.
"These square windows have many functions," said the architects. "They provide the warehouse and the office with sunlight, they give a wonderful view over the canal, they make sure there is a correlation between the offices and the workplace and there is also a filtered visibility between the public road and the entire company."
The roof of the lower-ground floor is covered with plants, and is overlooked by the offices and a roof terrace on top of the lunch room. A separate roof terrace next to the manager's office at the other end of the building looks onto the canal and is similarly concealed behind the mesh surface.
Photography is by Thomas De Bruyne.
Architects: Koen Heijse, Roel Cocquyt Collaborator: Christophe Gardin Engineering: Coene Consulting
Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly. Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news.
Sent every Tuesday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news.
A daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen.
Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news.
News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates.
News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates.
We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. We will never give your details to anyone else without your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing us at [email protected] .
For more details, please see our privacy notice.
You will shortly receive a welcome email so please check your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every newsletter.
Visit our comments page | Read our comments policy
Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly. Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news.
Sent every Tuesday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news.
A daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen.
Daily updates on the latest design and architecture vacancies advertised on Dezeen Jobs. Plus occasional news.
News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Plus occasional updates.
News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world. Plus occasional updates.
We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. We will never give your details to anyone else without your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing us at [email protected] .
For more details, please see our privacy notice.
You will shortly receive a welcome email so please check your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every newsletter.
Please share your location to continue.
Check our help guide for more info.
Please share your location to continue.
Check our help guide for more info.
Please share your location to continue.
Check our help guide for more info.
Please share your location to continue.
Check our help guide for more info.